The 100-Yard War: Inside the 100-Year-Old Michigan-Ohio State Football Rivalry (Paperback)

by Greg Emmanuel (Author) "It wouldn't be Ann Arbor if it weren't so freaking cold..." (more)
Key Phrases: rookie coach, bowl bid, next possession, Ohio State, Ann Arbor, Big Ten (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
On November 22, 2003, the Ohio State Buckeyes and Michigan Wolverines faced each other on the gridiron for the 100th time in one of the most famous football rivalries. Over 100,000 fans attended the "celebration," proving their special devotion (or mania). Emmanuel (Extreme Encounters) focuses on the century-plus of heated battles between the two schools with a combination of humor and drama, frat-house intensity and more "mature" pride. The schools first tangled in 1897 and have been bashing each other yearly since (with a hiatus from 1913 to 1918). Some of the greatest coaches and players in college football, including Woody Hayes, Bo Schembechler, Archie Griffin and Charles Woodson, made their names in these heated affairs. Michigan has a 57–37 margin (with six ties), thanks in part to victories in their first 15 meetings. Emmanuel does a marvelous job of conveying not only the competition between the athletes but the ancillary bits and pieces—the less-than-ideal game conditions, the spirit of the marching bands and, in particular, the loyalty of classmates and family—that go into making this a special competition. Most of the book is devoted to the fans, however, who bask in the reflected glory of their team's success. For the stats nuts, Emmanuel offers an appendix including the results of each of the 100 games. (Sept.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist
Beyond the controversial bowl-game rankings, college football is defined by its rivalries. Near the top of the list is Ohio State versus Michigan. Both are perennial powers, they play in the same conference, and they share a border. Emmanuel traces the history of this storied rivalry back to its 1897 roots. The first 15 games were all won by Michigan, with the exception of two ties. The rivalry heated up through the next few decades and took on its current fervor until the late 1960s, when Michigan hired Bo Schembechler as head coach to counter Ohio State's legendary Woody Hayes. Emmanuel's research took him to newspaper and magazine accounts as well as interviews with former participants in what fans call "The Game." His play-by-play accounts are a bit lengthy, but he captures the drama inherent in each one by providing a context (conference title at stake, etc.) as well as a sense of the on-field player matchups. Carefully researched and written with panache. Wes Lukowsky
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Wiley (August 18, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 047173649X
• ISBN-13: 978-0471736493
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #630,361 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Compelling read, November 6, 2004

By	R. Levine (NYC, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The 100-Yard War: Inside the 100-Year-Old Michigan-Ohio State Football Rivalry (Hardcover)

Emmanuel successfully weaves the story of the 100th meeting between Michigan and Ohio State -- the 2003 battle in Ann Arbor to decide the Big Ten championship -- into the century long history between these two perennial powers.

The narrative is compelling, and uncovers the historial reasons for the bitter rivalry between the two states and spends ample time on past classic meetings. It also gets into the not-so-subtle differences between the fans of the two schools, which is the real sustaining power for the rivalry today.

All in all, this is an excellent look at one of sports' greatest rivalries and would be a great addition to the book collection of alums or fans of either school, or just college football fans in general.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Stuff, October 26, 2004

By	V. Gauri (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The 100-Yard War: Inside the 100-Year-Old Michigan-Ohio State Football Rivalry (Hardcover)

An entertaining read about arguably the greatest rivalry in sports, and everything that went into the 100th game in 2003. The detailed appendix, notes, and index can settle most arguments and bets on what's happened over the course of the rivalry. A good holiday gift idea for any sports fan (and obviously any Ohio State or Michigan fan).

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Review of a Great Rivalry, March 11, 2007

By	Harvey S. Morrison (University Heights, OH) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The 100-Yard War: Inside the 100-Year-Old Michigan-Ohio State Football Rivalry (Hardcover)

As an "outsider", Greg Emmanuel quickly grasped the dynamics of the long-lasting rivalry between Ohio State and The University of Michigan. While the history of the games' action through the years is quite thorough, his accurate comparison of universities represented by these two great football powers is very perceptive. Having graduated from both schools, I would agree with the comparisons. It's a good read.